US20110088354A1 - Packaging Apparatus and Processes - Google Patents
Packaging Apparatus and Processes Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20110088354A1 US20110088354A1 US12/905,892 US90589210A US2011088354A1 US 20110088354 A1 US20110088354 A1 US 20110088354A1 US 90589210 A US90589210 A US 90589210A US 2011088354 A1 US2011088354 A1 US 2011088354A1
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- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- film
- product
- products
- heater
- width
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
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Classifications
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
- B65B9/00—Enclosing successive articles, or quantities of material, e.g. liquids or semiliquids, in flat, folded, or tubular webs of flexible sheet material; Subdividing filled flexible tubes to form packages
- B65B9/02—Enclosing successive articles, or quantities of material between opposed webs
- B65B9/026—Enclosing successive articles, or quantities of material between opposed webs the webs forming a curtain
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
- B65B53/00—Shrinking wrappers, containers, or container covers during or after packaging
- B65B53/02—Shrinking wrappers, containers, or container covers during or after packaging by heat
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
- B65B53/00—Shrinking wrappers, containers, or container covers during or after packaging
- B65B53/02—Shrinking wrappers, containers, or container covers during or after packaging by heat
- B65B53/06—Shrinking wrappers, containers, or container covers during or after packaging by heat supplied by gases, e.g. hot-air jets
- B65B53/063—Tunnels
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
- B65B61/00—Auxiliary devices, not otherwise provided for, for operating on sheets, blanks, webs, binding material, containers or packages
- B65B61/02—Auxiliary devices, not otherwise provided for, for operating on sheets, blanks, webs, binding material, containers or packages for perforating, scoring, slitting, or applying code or date marks on material prior to packaging
- B65B61/025—Auxiliary devices, not otherwise provided for, for operating on sheets, blanks, webs, binding material, containers or packages for perforating, scoring, slitting, or applying code or date marks on material prior to packaging for applying, e.g. printing, code or date marks on material prior to packaging
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
- B65B—MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING
- B65B7/00—Closing containers or receptacles after filling
- B65B7/16—Closing semi-rigid or rigid containers or receptacles not deformed by, or not taking-up shape of, contents, e.g. boxes or cartons
- B65B7/28—Closing semi-rigid or rigid containers or receptacles not deformed by, or not taking-up shape of, contents, e.g. boxes or cartons by applying separate preformed closures, e.g. lids, covers
- B65B7/2842—Securing closures on containers
- B65B7/2885—Securing closures on containers by heat-shrinking
Definitions
- the present invention relates to packaging apparatus, and more specifically to packaging apparatus for wrapping products or batches of products.
- the invention also relates to processes for carrying out the packaging.
- a large number of products that are put on sale are packaged with plastic films.
- the films may be used to package a single product or they may be used to group together a certain number of products to form a batch of products.
- packaging machines that resolve this drawback and that package products automatically are already known on the market. Some of these machines dispose the packaging vertically, from a reel with a film that is folded in the shape of a tube, with the longitudinal edges then being sealed and the tube being cut transversally to the required length or height so that it may then be introduced in a vertical direction on the product to be wrapped. These machines are designed for packaging products of a determined shape.
- Document JP9048406A discloses a packaging machine capable of packaging products or batches of different shapes without any need to adapt the machine for such a purpose.
- the machine includes transport means for transporting the products or batches of products to be wrapped in a determined direction, at least one reel having a rolled film that is released from the reel for wrapping each product or batch of products according to the determined direction, and cutting and sealing means for generating a wrapper for each product or batch of products, each product or batch of products being wrapped by a wrapper as a result of its treatment in the machine.
- U.S. Pat. No. 3,295,290 discloses a packaging machine for wrapping products or batches of products.
- the machine includes transport means for transporting the products or the batches of products to be wrapped in a determined direction, at least one reel having a rolled film that is released from the reel for wrapping each product or batch of products according to the determined direction, cutting and sealing means for generating a wrapper for each product or batch of products, from the film that wraps the product or the batch of products, and heating means for shrinking the film once the wrapper has been generated for each product or batch of products.
- a system for packaging a product comprising: a conveyor that transports the product in a first direction, a first reel comprising a first film, the first film having a width that is less than a width of the product and shrinkable only in a longitudinal direction, a first printer adapted to print information on the first film prior to the first film being applied to the product, a first apparatus adapted to apply the first film onto the product to produce at least a partial film sleeve around at least a first portion of the product as the product is advanced in the first direction, and a first heater adapted to convey heat to at least a section of the first film applied to the product to cause the first film to shrink in the longitudinal direction.
- a process for packaging a product comprises: transporting the product in a first direction, printing first information on a first film by use of a first printer prior to the first film being applied to the product, applying the first film onto the product to produce at least a partial film sleeve around at least a first portion of the product as the product is advanced in the first direction, the first film having a width that is less than a width of the product and shrinkable only in a longitudinal direction; and conveying heat by use of a first heater to at least a section of the first film applied to the product to cause the first film to shrink in the longitudinal direction.
- a packaging machine for use in wrapping products or batches of products.
- the machine comprises transport means for transporting the products or batches of products to be wrapped in a determined direction, at least one reel comprising a rolled film that is released from the reel for wrapping each product or batch of products according to the determined direction, cutting and sealing means for generating a wrapper for each product or batch of products, which act on the film once the product or batch of products are wrapped, with the result that the wrapper wraps the product or batch of products, and heating means for shrinking the film once the wrapper has been generated for each product or batch of products, each product or batch of products being pressed by the corresponding wrapper, thereby ensuring the products or batches of products are optimally held in place and preventing consumers from damaging the wrapper, for example, when handling the products and batches of products that are put on display in a supermarket.
- the film used has a width that is smaller than the width of the products or batches of products, the wrappers thereby forming a sleeve around the corresponding product or batch of products.
- a packaging machine is provided that is adapted for working with a film shrinkable only in the longitudinal direction.
- a film shrinkable only in the longitudinal direction the production of edges in the wrapper after being heated is prevented when the products or batches of products are, for example, circular shaped.
- the reduction or elimination of edges prevents or makes it difficult for a person to manipulate the wrapper.
- a packaging machine comprises printing means for placing printed information on the film once the film is released from the reel and before wrapping the corresponding product or the batch of products with the film. This enables the information of each print, or a set of prints, to be customised. Thus, it is assured that the printed information on the wrapper is legible following shrinking.
- FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a packaging apparatus according to one implementation.
- FIG. 2 is a schematic view of the packaging apparatus of FIG. 1 showing a film wrapping of a product.
- FIG. 3 is a schematic view of the packaging apparatus of FIG. 1 showing cutting and sealing means generating a wrapper that wraps a product.
- FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an exemplary product packaged by the packaging apparatus of FIG. 1 .
- FIGS. 1 to 3 show an exemplary embodiment of a packaging machine 1 which is designed to wrap products or batches of products.
- the machine 1 is preferably used to wrap food products, but may also be used to wrap any other type of non-food products that require packaging.
- the machine 1 enables products 3 to be packaged separately from each other, one by one, or a batch of products to be packaged, a batch that may comprise a specific number of units of a single product or even a specific number of different products, the products 3 being capable of being, for example, uniform, irregular, hard, soft or of any other characteristic or combination of characteristics.
- products 3 throughout the description and not to batches of products, although it is evident that batches of products may be used instead of products 3 .
- the machine 1 comprises transport means 2 on which are disposed the products 3 to be wrapped and which transport the products 3 in a determined direction X, at least one reel 4 comprising a rolled film 5 that is released from the reel 4 for wrapping each product 3 according to the determined direction X, and cutting and sealing means 14 for generating a wrapper 6 for each product 3 , each product 3 being wrapped by a wrapper 6 .
- the transport means 2 comprises at least one conveyor belt, and the product 3 to be wrapped is disposed on the conveyor belt and is moved in the determined direction X in order to be packaged.
- the machine 1 also comprises a plurality of rollers 100 in order to give the film 5 the required tension when it is released from the real 4 and to guide the film 5 , so that the product 3 may be wrapped according to the determined direction X.
- the film 5 that is rolled on the reel 4 has a width that is smaller than the width of the products 3 , the wrappers 6 thereby forming a sleeve around the corresponding product 3 , in the form of a band, as shown in FIG. 4 .
- FIG. 4 shows a product 3 in the form of a tray, it is clear that the wrapper 6 may also be used for batches of products, for wrapping products 3 of a cylindrical type or other types of products 3 , be they uniform, irregular, hard, soft, etc.
- the wrapper 6 may have printed information 16 that may be decorative and/or variable printed information.
- the decorative information is generally printed before the film 5 is disposed in the reel 4 , in other words it is pre-printed before the reel 4 is disposed in the machine 1 .
- the variable information may, for example, be customised for each product 3 during the packaging process and may therefore be printed as a part of the packaging process.
- the machine 1 also comprises heating means 7 for shrinking the film 5 once the wrapper 6 has been generated for each product 3 , the film 5 being shrinkable only in the longitudinal direction of the film 5 , with the result that the wrapper 6 shrinks in a manner to make the printed information 16 legible and the product 3 is enclosed or pressed by the wrapper 6 , thereby preventing it from being mishandled.
- the heating means 7 comprises an enclosed area that corresponds with an oven, which comprises an inlet 71 through which the products 3 with the wrapper 6 are introduced in its interior in order to cause the wrapper 6 to shrink, and an outlet 72 through which the products 3 are removed from its interior once the wrapper has been shrunk.
- the printed information 16 on the wrapper 6 includes customised information
- the machine 1 comprises printing means to place the customised information on the film 5 once the film 5 is released from the reel 4 and before wrapping a product 3 to enable customized information to be printed each time.
- the customised information may comprise ingredients, expiry dates, a batch number, barcode, packaging date, date of manufacture or other variable information for each product 3 . This prevents the need for an additional machine such as a labelling machine, for example, to place a label or a sticker with the information on the wrapper 6 of the product 3 , thereby allowing savings to be made in the machinery used and in the time required to obtain a packaged product.
- the wrapper 6 can be recycled more easily as it does not have labels stuck on it or adhesive from another material different to that of the wrapper 6 .
- the printing means comprises at least one printer 8 and support means 9 on which the film 5 is supported, the printer 8 printing on the surface of the film 5 supported on the support means 9 .
- the support means 9 corresponds with one of the rollers 100 used to tighten and guide the film 5 once it is released from the reel 4 , but it may have a separate support or similar member designed for such a purpose.
- the printing means may also comprise a second printer (not shown in the figures) with respective support means continuous to the printer 8 .
- the first printer 8 may, for example, print a white box on the film 5
- the second printer may print a plurality of lines and numbers on the box to create a barcode.
- the printing of barcodes has been described by way of example, but it is evident that other types of printing may also be printed both in black and white and colour for the presentation of the product 3 .
- a single reel 4 may thus be used to package different products 3 or a single product requiring different printed variable information 16 , for example, without the need to replace the reel 4 every time the product 3 is changed or every time the information associated with the product 3 being packaged at that time is changed.
- the film 5 is also transparent, with the result that it is easy to identify the printing and for the user to see the product through the wrapper 6 .
- the film 5 is a plastic PET-G film.
- the heating means 7 comprises a first chamber 7 A where heat is emitted by infrared on product 3 , already wrapped with the wrapper 6 , and a second chamber 7 B, disposed after the first chamber 7 A, where heat is emitted by convection on the wrapped product 3 .
- the transport means 2 A and 2 B comprise conveyor belts and are synchronised with each other and also with transport means 2 .
- the products 3 move in a synchronised manner from one place to another where they are disposed on the transport means 2 until their removal from the second chamber 7 B of the heating means 7 .
- in order to emit heat in the first chamber 7 A infrareds are used and which are distributed in such a way that the product 3 is heated homogenously, or which may be disposed in such a way that more heat is irradiated against the lower part of the product 3 , the part of the wrapper 6 that is disposed in the lower part shrinking to a greater extent.
- the wrapper 6 of the upper part of the product 3 which is the part that is usually shown, is altered to a lesser extent, thereby improving the presentation of the product 3 .
- the machine 1 comprises control means (not shown in the Figures) that is adapted, among other functions, to keep the transport means 2 , 2 A and 2 B synchronised.
- the control means may also be used to control the printing means, with the result that the printing means may print information entered beforehand by the user or variable information such as an expiry date calculated at the exact moment of packaging depending on the product 3 to be packaged.
- the control means also allow the extent to which the film 5 shrinks when it passes through the heating means 7 to be anticipated, and to enter a correction of the subsequent deformation in the printing so that the information printed may be of a high quality and legible after the shrinking.
- the machine 1 comprises a second reel 10 with a second rolled film 11 that is released from the second reel 10 for wrapping each product 3 according to the determined direction X, with the result that the wrappers 6 are generated joining one segment of the first film 5 with a respective segment of the second film 11 to form a “curtain” 12 .
- This also enables products 3 of different shapes to be packaged without technical modifications having to be made to the machine 1 , the machine 1 being very versatile.
- one of the reels is placed over the transport means 2 , 2 A while the other reel is placed under the transport means 2 , 2 A.
- the machine 1 also comprises pressing means 17 that acts on the film 5 in order to push it towards the product 3 , and thereby prevent the movement of the wrapper 6 during the operations in which the film 5 is cut and sealed.
- the pressing means 17 allows, for example, the film 5 to be stretched by the product 3 as it advances, with its shape not being recovered until the cutting and sealing means 14 have acted.
- the pressing means 17 prevents the film 5 from moving while the cutting and sealing means 14 cut and seal it.
- the machine 1 may be used to package products 3 of the type presented in a tray for example, joining the films 5 and 11 to form a curtain 12 that is vertical or oblique to the vertical plane ( FIG. 1 ), it being the product 3 that comes into contact with the curtain 12 wrapped, in the form of a band, in the longitudinal direction of the product 3 (on top of and beneath the product 3 ).
- the first arrangement also allows products 3 of the container or bottle type, for example, to be packaged, with the difference that the machine 1 comprises guide means (not shown in the Figures) to guide the films 5 and 11 in such a way that they join together to form a curtain 12 that is horizontal or oblique to the horizontal plane (not shown in the Figures), the products 3 being wrapped transversally, in the form of a band.
- the machine 1 comprises guide means (not shown in the Figures) to guide the films 5 and 11 in such a way that they join together to form a curtain 12 that is horizontal or oblique to the horizontal plane (not shown in the Figures), the products 3 being wrapped transversally, in the form of a band.
- the reels 4 and 10 may be placed on either side of the transport means 2 or both on the same side of the transport means 2 (over, under or to one side of the transport means 2 ), thereby causing films 5 and 11 to join to form a curtain 12 that is vertical or oblique to the vertical plane, or a curtain 12 that is horizontal or oblique to the horizontal plane, depending on what is required.
- the two films 5 and 11 are made of a single material to enable them to be sealed together. However, it is not necessary that both films 5 and 11 are shrinkable in the longitudinal direction, with only one or both of them being shrinkable. As a result, the film 5 may be shrinkable in the longitudinal direction, and the film 11 may be non-shrinkable, for example. In both arrangements there may also be a printer 8 (or more printers) for the film 4 , and another printer 8 A (or more printers) for the film 11 .
- elements of the machine 1 such as the rollers 100 and the reels 4 and 10 , are fixed with freedom and housed within an enclosure plate 13 . This provides the machine 1 with a clean arrangement, which may be especially advantageous when wrapping food products 3 .
- a product 3 is transported in a determined direction X, and a film 5 is released from a reel 4 of a machine 1 for wrapping the product 3 according to the determined direction X, the film 5 comprising a width that is smaller than the width of the product 3 and printed information 16 , and being shrinkable only in the longitudinal direction.
- the film 5 wraps the product 3
- the film 5 is cut and sealed to generate a wrapper 6 for the product 3 by means of cutting and sealing means 14 of the machine 1 , and the product 3 continues to be transported in the determined direction X towards heating means 7 of the machine 1 .
- the product 3 During its movement the product 3 , with the wrapper 6 , is introduced into a first chamber 7 A of the heating means 7 , with heat being applied to it by infrared.
- product 3 continues to advance in the determined direction X and moves to a second chamber 7 B of the heating means 7 , where heat is applied to it by convection.
- the film 5 shrinks and adapts itself to the shape of the product 3 once the wrapper 6 has been generated, the product 3 being pressed by the wrapper 6 and the printed information 16 being disposed on it in a legible manner.
- the film 5 is released from the reel 4 in synchronisation with the advance of the product 3 .
- control means of the machine 1 cause the release of the film 5 at a speed substantially equal to the speed of advance of the product 3 in the determined direction X, thereby helping the film 5 to wrap the product 3 .
- the control means acts on at least one of the rollers 100 of the machine 1 , used for giving the film 5 the required tension when it is released from the roller 4 and for guiding the film 5 , causing the rotation speed of the roller 100 to be substantially equal to the speed of advance of the product 3 in the determined direction X.
- the machine 1 may also comprise pushing means 15 which may be controlled by the control means to push the product 3 when the product 3 reaches a specific position (e.g., next to the film 5 in the determined direction X, or when it comes into contact with the film 5 ), thereby helping the product 3 to be wrapped by the film 5 .
- the pushing means 15 pushes the product 3 at a speed substantially equal to the speed of advance of the product 3 , thereby ensuring synchronisation with the advance of the product 3 and with the release of the film 5 from the reel 4 .
- the process also comprises a stage in which printed information 16 is disposed on the film 5 , once the film 5 is released from the reel 4 and before wrapping the product 3 .
- the printed information 16 may be customised by the printing means and the control means.
- product 3 is transported in the determined direction X towards the curtain 12 formed by the joining of the films 5 and 11 , as shown in FIG. 1 .
- the product 3 comes into contact with the curtain 12 and pushes it, the curtain 12 being wrapped around the product 3 in the form of a band as shown in FIG. 2 .
- the pressing means 17 prevent the films 5 and 11 from moving in relation to the product 3 , while the cutting and sealing means 14 cut the films 5 and 11 , thereby generating a wrapper 6 formed by the curtain 12 , and seal together both the two ends of the wrapper 6 , with the wrapper 6 closing around the product 3 , and the two segments of the films 5 and 11 , which generate a new curtain 12 for the next product 3 to be wrapped, as shown in FIG. 3 .
- the product 3 wrapped by the wrapper 6 enters the heating means, where the wrapper 6 is shrunk following its passage through both chambers 7 A and 7 B of the heating means 7 .
Abstract
Description
- The present application is related to and claims the benefit of European Patent Appl. No. 09382214.6, filed Oct. 16, 2009.
- The present invention relates to packaging apparatus, and more specifically to packaging apparatus for wrapping products or batches of products. The invention also relates to processes for carrying out the packaging.
- A large number of products that are put on sale are packaged with plastic films. The films may be used to package a single product or they may be used to group together a certain number of products to form a batch of products.
- In some cases, the packaging of the products is performed manually by an operator, resulting in a slow and costly process. Packaging machines that resolve this drawback and that package products automatically are already known on the market. Some of these machines dispose the packaging vertically, from a reel with a film that is folded in the shape of a tube, with the longitudinal edges then being sealed and the tube being cut transversally to the required length or height so that it may then be introduced in a vertical direction on the product to be wrapped. These machines are designed for packaging products of a determined shape.
- Document JP9048406A discloses a packaging machine capable of packaging products or batches of different shapes without any need to adapt the machine for such a purpose. The machine includes transport means for transporting the products or batches of products to be wrapped in a determined direction, at least one reel having a rolled film that is released from the reel for wrapping each product or batch of products according to the determined direction, and cutting and sealing means for generating a wrapper for each product or batch of products, each product or batch of products being wrapped by a wrapper as a result of its treatment in the machine.
- U.S. Pat. No. 3,295,290 discloses a packaging machine for wrapping products or batches of products. The machine includes transport means for transporting the products or the batches of products to be wrapped in a determined direction, at least one reel having a rolled film that is released from the reel for wrapping each product or batch of products according to the determined direction, cutting and sealing means for generating a wrapper for each product or batch of products, from the film that wraps the product or the batch of products, and heating means for shrinking the film once the wrapper has been generated for each product or batch of products.
- According to one implementation a system for packaging a product is provided comprising: a conveyor that transports the product in a first direction, a first reel comprising a first film, the first film having a width that is less than a width of the product and shrinkable only in a longitudinal direction, a first printer adapted to print information on the first film prior to the first film being applied to the product, a first apparatus adapted to apply the first film onto the product to produce at least a partial film sleeve around at least a first portion of the product as the product is advanced in the first direction, and a first heater adapted to convey heat to at least a section of the first film applied to the product to cause the first film to shrink in the longitudinal direction.
- According to one implementation a process for packaging a product is provided that comprises: transporting the product in a first direction, printing first information on a first film by use of a first printer prior to the first film being applied to the product, applying the first film onto the product to produce at least a partial film sleeve around at least a first portion of the product as the product is advanced in the first direction, the first film having a width that is less than a width of the product and shrinkable only in a longitudinal direction; and conveying heat by use of a first heater to at least a section of the first film applied to the product to cause the first film to shrink in the longitudinal direction.
- In one implementation a packaging machine is provided for use in wrapping products or batches of products. In one implementation the machine comprises transport means for transporting the products or batches of products to be wrapped in a determined direction, at least one reel comprising a rolled film that is released from the reel for wrapping each product or batch of products according to the determined direction, cutting and sealing means for generating a wrapper for each product or batch of products, which act on the film once the product or batch of products are wrapped, with the result that the wrapper wraps the product or batch of products, and heating means for shrinking the film once the wrapper has been generated for each product or batch of products, each product or batch of products being pressed by the corresponding wrapper, thereby ensuring the products or batches of products are optimally held in place and preventing consumers from damaging the wrapper, for example, when handling the products and batches of products that are put on display in a supermarket.
- In one implementation the film used has a width that is smaller than the width of the products or batches of products, the wrappers thereby forming a sleeve around the corresponding product or batch of products.
- In one implementation a packaging machine is provided that is adapted for working with a film shrinkable only in the longitudinal direction. Using a film shrinkable only in the longitudinal direction the production of edges in the wrapper after being heated is prevented when the products or batches of products are, for example, circular shaped. The reduction or elimination of edges prevents or makes it difficult for a person to manipulate the wrapper.
- In one implementation a packaging machine is provided that comprises printing means for placing printed information on the film once the film is released from the reel and before wrapping the corresponding product or the batch of products with the film. This enables the information of each print, or a set of prints, to be customised. Thus, it is assured that the printed information on the wrapper is legible following shrinking.
- These and other advantages and characteristics will be made evident in the light of the drawings and the detailed description thereof.
-
FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a packaging apparatus according to one implementation. -
FIG. 2 is a schematic view of the packaging apparatus ofFIG. 1 showing a film wrapping of a product. -
FIG. 3 is a schematic view of the packaging apparatus ofFIG. 1 showing cutting and sealing means generating a wrapper that wraps a product. -
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an exemplary product packaged by the packaging apparatus ofFIG. 1 . -
FIGS. 1 to 3 show an exemplary embodiment of apackaging machine 1 which is designed to wrap products or batches of products. Themachine 1 is preferably used to wrap food products, but may also be used to wrap any other type of non-food products that require packaging. In addition, themachine 1 enablesproducts 3 to be packaged separately from each other, one by one, or a batch of products to be packaged, a batch that may comprise a specific number of units of a single product or even a specific number of different products, theproducts 3 being capable of being, for example, uniform, irregular, hard, soft or of any other characteristic or combination of characteristics. Hereinafter and for the purposes of simplification, reference shall be made toproducts 3 throughout the description and not to batches of products, although it is evident that batches of products may be used instead ofproducts 3. - In one implementation the
machine 1 comprises transport means 2 on which are disposed theproducts 3 to be wrapped and which transport theproducts 3 in a determined direction X, at least onereel 4 comprising a rolledfilm 5 that is released from thereel 4 for wrapping eachproduct 3 according to the determined direction X, and cutting and sealing means 14 for generating awrapper 6 for eachproduct 3, eachproduct 3 being wrapped by awrapper 6. In one implementation the transport means 2 comprises at least one conveyor belt, and theproduct 3 to be wrapped is disposed on the conveyor belt and is moved in the determined direction X in order to be packaged. In one implementation themachine 1 also comprises a plurality of rollers 100 in order to give thefilm 5 the required tension when it is released from the real 4 and to guide thefilm 5, so that theproduct 3 may be wrapped according to the determined direction X. - The
film 5 that is rolled on thereel 4 has a width that is smaller than the width of theproducts 3, thewrappers 6 thereby forming a sleeve around thecorresponding product 3, in the form of a band, as shown inFIG. 4 . AlthoughFIG. 4 shows aproduct 3 in the form of a tray, it is clear that thewrapper 6 may also be used for batches of products, for wrappingproducts 3 of a cylindrical type or other types ofproducts 3, be they uniform, irregular, hard, soft, etc. - The
wrapper 6 may have printedinformation 16 that may be decorative and/or variable printed information. The decorative information is generally printed before thefilm 5 is disposed in thereel 4, in other words it is pre-printed before thereel 4 is disposed in themachine 1. In contrast, the variable information may, for example, be customised for eachproduct 3 during the packaging process and may therefore be printed as a part of the packaging process. In one implementation themachine 1 also comprises heating means 7 for shrinking thefilm 5 once thewrapper 6 has been generated for eachproduct 3, thefilm 5 being shrinkable only in the longitudinal direction of thefilm 5, with the result that thewrapper 6 shrinks in a manner to make the printedinformation 16 legible and theproduct 3 is enclosed or pressed by thewrapper 6, thereby preventing it from being mishandled. In one implementation the heating means 7 comprises an enclosed area that corresponds with an oven, which comprises aninlet 71 through which theproducts 3 with thewrapper 6 are introduced in its interior in order to cause thewrapper 6 to shrink, and anoutlet 72 through which theproducts 3 are removed from its interior once the wrapper has been shrunk. - In one implementation the printed
information 16 on thewrapper 6 includes customised information, themachine 1 comprises printing means to place the customised information on thefilm 5 once thefilm 5 is released from thereel 4 and before wrapping aproduct 3 to enable customized information to be printed each time. The customised information may comprise ingredients, expiry dates, a batch number, barcode, packaging date, date of manufacture or other variable information for eachproduct 3. This prevents the need for an additional machine such as a labelling machine, for example, to place a label or a sticker with the information on thewrapper 6 of theproduct 3, thereby allowing savings to be made in the machinery used and in the time required to obtain a packaged product. Furthermore, as it does not require labels, thewrapper 6 can be recycled more easily as it does not have labels stuck on it or adhesive from another material different to that of thewrapper 6. In one implementation the printing means comprises at least oneprinter 8 and support means 9 on which thefilm 5 is supported, theprinter 8 printing on the surface of thefilm 5 supported on the support means 9. As a result, thanks to the printing of thefilm 5 on the support means 9, high quality printing may be obtained on thefilm 5, thereby improving the aesthetic appearance of the product. In one implementation the support means 9 corresponds with one of the rollers 100 used to tighten and guide thefilm 5 once it is released from thereel 4, but it may have a separate support or similar member designed for such a purpose. - The printing means may also comprise a second printer (not shown in the figures) with respective support means continuous to the
printer 8. As a result, thefirst printer 8 may, for example, print a white box on thefilm 5, while the second printer may print a plurality of lines and numbers on the box to create a barcode. The printing of barcodes has been described by way of example, but it is evident that other types of printing may also be printed both in black and white and colour for the presentation of theproduct 3. Asingle reel 4 may thus be used to packagedifferent products 3 or a single product requiring different printedvariable information 16, for example, without the need to replace thereel 4 every time theproduct 3 is changed or every time the information associated with theproduct 3 being packaged at that time is changed. This results in financial savings due to the reduction in the number ofpre-printed reels 4 required for thedifferent products 3 to be packaged, and savings in storage space, which therefore represents a logistical advantage as there is no need to storedifferent reels 4 with different information. In one implementation thefilm 5 is also transparent, with the result that it is easy to identify the printing and for the user to see the product through thewrapper 6. In one implementation thefilm 5 is a plastic PET-G film. - In one implementation the heating means 7 comprises a
first chamber 7A where heat is emitted by infrared onproduct 3, already wrapped with thewrapper 6, and asecond chamber 7B, disposed after thefirst chamber 7A, where heat is emitted by convection on the wrappedproduct 3. As a result, once aproduct 3 is wrapped with awrapper 6, by means of second transport means 2A theproduct 3 is introduced in thefirst chamber 7A of the heating means 7 (which may be an oven), from where they reach thesecond chamber 7B by means of third transport means 2B. In one implementation the transport means 2A and 2B comprise conveyor belts and are synchronised with each other and also with transport means 2. Consequently, theproducts 3 move in a synchronised manner from one place to another where they are disposed on the transport means 2 until their removal from thesecond chamber 7B of the heating means 7. In one implementation, in order to emit heat in thefirst chamber 7A infrareds are used and which are distributed in such a way that theproduct 3 is heated homogenously, or which may be disposed in such a way that more heat is irradiated against the lower part of theproduct 3, the part of thewrapper 6 that is disposed in the lower part shrinking to a greater extent. With this last arrangement thewrapper 6 of the upper part of theproduct 3, which is the part that is usually shown, is altered to a lesser extent, thereby improving the presentation of theproduct 3. - In one implementation the
machine 1 comprises control means (not shown in the Figures) that is adapted, among other functions, to keep the transport means 2, 2A and 2B synchronised. The control means may also be used to control the printing means, with the result that the printing means may print information entered beforehand by the user or variable information such as an expiry date calculated at the exact moment of packaging depending on theproduct 3 to be packaged. The control means also allow the extent to which thefilm 5 shrinks when it passes through the heating means 7 to be anticipated, and to enter a correction of the subsequent deformation in the printing so that the information printed may be of a high quality and legible after the shrinking. - In one implementation the
machine 1 comprises asecond reel 10 with a second rolledfilm 11 that is released from thesecond reel 10 for wrapping eachproduct 3 according to the determined direction X, with the result that thewrappers 6 are generated joining one segment of thefirst film 5 with a respective segment of thesecond film 11 to form a “curtain” 12. This also enablesproducts 3 of different shapes to be packaged without technical modifications having to be made to themachine 1, themachine 1 being very versatile. In one implementation according to a first arrangement of themachine 1, one of the reels is placed over the transport means 2, 2A while the other reel is placed under the transport means 2, 2A. In an implementation of a machine according toFIGS. 1-3 it is thereel 4 that is placed over the transport means 2, 2A, while it is thereel 10 that is placed under the transport means 2, 2A. In one implementation themachine 1 also comprises pressing means 17 that acts on thefilm 5 in order to push it towards theproduct 3, and thereby prevent the movement of thewrapper 6 during the operations in which thefilm 5 is cut and sealed. As a result, the pressing means 17 allows, for example, thefilm 5 to be stretched by theproduct 3 as it advances, with its shape not being recovered until the cutting and sealing means 14 have acted. In addition, by keeping thefilm 5 against theproduct 3 the pressing means 17 prevents thefilm 5 from moving while the cutting and sealing means 14 cut and seal it. - With this first arrangement, the
machine 1 may be used to packageproducts 3 of the type presented in a tray for example, joining thefilms curtain 12 that is vertical or oblique to the vertical plane (FIG. 1 ), it being theproduct 3 that comes into contact with thecurtain 12 wrapped, in the form of a band, in the longitudinal direction of the product 3 (on top of and beneath the product 3). The first arrangement also allowsproducts 3 of the container or bottle type, for example, to be packaged, with the difference that themachine 1 comprises guide means (not shown in the Figures) to guide thefilms curtain 12 that is horizontal or oblique to the horizontal plane (not shown in the Figures), theproducts 3 being wrapped transversally, in the form of a band. - In other arrangements not shown in the figures, the
reels films curtain 12 that is vertical or oblique to the vertical plane, or acurtain 12 that is horizontal or oblique to the horizontal plane, depending on what is required. - In one implementation the two
films films film 5 may be shrinkable in the longitudinal direction, and thefilm 11 may be non-shrinkable, for example. In both arrangements there may also be a printer 8 (or more printers) for thefilm 4, and another printer 8A (or more printers) for thefilm 11. - In one implementation elements of the
machine 1, such as the rollers 100 and thereels enclosure plate 13. This provides themachine 1 with a clean arrangement, which may be especially advantageous when wrappingfood products 3. - Implementations of packaging processes used for wrapping
products 3 or batches of products will now be explained. In one implementation aproduct 3 is transported in a determined direction X, and afilm 5 is released from areel 4 of amachine 1 for wrapping theproduct 3 according to the determined direction X, thefilm 5 comprising a width that is smaller than the width of theproduct 3 and printedinformation 16, and being shrinkable only in the longitudinal direction. Once thefilm 5 wraps theproduct 3, thefilm 5 is cut and sealed to generate awrapper 6 for theproduct 3 by means of cutting and sealing means 14 of themachine 1, and theproduct 3 continues to be transported in the determined direction X towards heating means 7 of themachine 1. During its movement theproduct 3, with thewrapper 6, is introduced into afirst chamber 7A of the heating means 7, with heat being applied to it by infrared. In oneimplementation product 3 continues to advance in the determined direction X and moves to asecond chamber 7B of the heating means 7, where heat is applied to it by convection. As a result of its passage through the heating means and the ability of thefilm 5 to shrink in the longitudinal direction, thefilm 5 shrinks and adapts itself to the shape of theproduct 3 once thewrapper 6 has been generated, theproduct 3 being pressed by thewrapper 6 and the printedinformation 16 being disposed on it in a legible manner. - In one implementation the
film 5 is released from thereel 4 in synchronisation with the advance of theproduct 3. Thus, when theproduct 3 reaches a specific position (e.g., next to thefilm 5 in the determined direction X, or when it comes into contact with the film 5), control means of themachine 1 cause the release of thefilm 5 at a speed substantially equal to the speed of advance of theproduct 3 in the determined direction X, thereby helping thefilm 5 to wrap theproduct 3. In one implementation the control means acts on at least one of the rollers 100 of themachine 1, used for giving thefilm 5 the required tension when it is released from theroller 4 and for guiding thefilm 5, causing the rotation speed of the roller 100 to be substantially equal to the speed of advance of theproduct 3 in the determined direction X. Themachine 1 may also comprise pushingmeans 15 which may be controlled by the control means to push theproduct 3 when theproduct 3 reaches a specific position (e.g., next to thefilm 5 in the determined direction X, or when it comes into contact with the film 5), thereby helping theproduct 3 to be wrapped by thefilm 5. In one implementation the pushingmeans 15 pushes theproduct 3 at a speed substantially equal to the speed of advance of theproduct 3, thereby ensuring synchronisation with the advance of theproduct 3 and with the release of thefilm 5 from thereel 4. - In one implementation the process also comprises a stage in which printed
information 16 is disposed on thefilm 5, once thefilm 5 is released from thereel 4 and before wrapping theproduct 3. The printedinformation 16 may be customised by the printing means and the control means. - In one
implementation product 3 is transported in the determined direction X towards thecurtain 12 formed by the joining of thefilms FIG. 1 . When it reaches the height of thecurtain 12, theproduct 3 comes into contact with thecurtain 12 and pushes it, thecurtain 12 being wrapped around theproduct 3 in the form of a band as shown inFIG. 2 . Subsequently, once thefilm 5 wraps theproduct 3, the pressing means 17 prevent thefilms product 3, while the cutting and sealing means 14 cut thefilms wrapper 6 formed by thecurtain 12, and seal together both the two ends of thewrapper 6, with thewrapper 6 closing around theproduct 3, and the two segments of thefilms new curtain 12 for thenext product 3 to be wrapped, as shown inFIG. 3 . Theproduct 3 wrapped by thewrapper 6 enters the heating means, where thewrapper 6 is shrunk following its passage through bothchambers
Claims (24)
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
EPEP09382214.6 | 2009-10-16 | ||
EP09382214A EP2311734A1 (en) | 2009-10-16 | 2009-10-16 | Packaging machine for wrapping products or batches of products, and packaging process |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
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US20110088354A1 true US20110088354A1 (en) | 2011-04-21 |
Family
ID=41810131
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
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US12/905,892 Abandoned US20110088354A1 (en) | 2009-10-16 | 2010-10-15 | Packaging Apparatus and Processes |
Country Status (3)
Country | Link |
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US (1) | US20110088354A1 (en) |
EP (1) | EP2311734A1 (en) |
JP (2) | JP2011084341A (en) |
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US20130055682A1 (en) * | 2010-05-12 | 2013-03-07 | Avery Dennison Corporation | Heat Shrink Packaging System and Method |
US20130067864A1 (en) * | 2011-09-20 | 2013-03-21 | Michael Scott Dwyer | Packaging a Product Bundle |
US9708085B2 (en) | 2010-11-04 | 2017-07-18 | Georgia-Pacific Consumer Products Lp | Systems, methods, and apparatus involving packaging |
US20180273224A1 (en) * | 2017-03-23 | 2018-09-27 | Tzu-Chin Hung | Plastic film sealing and packaging device |
CN114426114A (en) * | 2022-03-07 | 2022-05-03 | 隆士丹智能科技(苏州)有限公司 | Tape sticking mechanism |
WO2023147271A1 (en) * | 2022-01-26 | 2023-08-03 | The Procter & Gamble Company | Infrared-assisted shrink wrap product bundling |
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JP7233731B2 (en) * | 2020-09-25 | 2023-03-07 | 株式会社フジキカイ | packaging method |
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US20130055682A1 (en) * | 2010-05-12 | 2013-03-07 | Avery Dennison Corporation | Heat Shrink Packaging System and Method |
US10059477B2 (en) * | 2010-05-12 | 2018-08-28 | Avery Dennison Corporation | Heat shrink packaging system and method |
US9708085B2 (en) | 2010-11-04 | 2017-07-18 | Georgia-Pacific Consumer Products Lp | Systems, methods, and apparatus involving packaging |
US9821923B2 (en) | 2010-11-04 | 2017-11-21 | Georgia-Pacific Consumer Products Lp | Method of packaging product units and a package of product units |
US10427813B2 (en) | 2010-11-04 | 2019-10-01 | Gpcp Ip Holdings Llc | Methods of packaging products and packaging arrangements using a shrinkable protective cover to keep a graphic on a band formed, intact, and visible |
US20130067864A1 (en) * | 2011-09-20 | 2013-03-21 | Michael Scott Dwyer | Packaging a Product Bundle |
US20180273224A1 (en) * | 2017-03-23 | 2018-09-27 | Tzu-Chin Hung | Plastic film sealing and packaging device |
US10618680B2 (en) * | 2017-03-23 | 2020-04-14 | Tzu-Chin Hung | Plastic film sealing and packaging device |
WO2023147271A1 (en) * | 2022-01-26 | 2023-08-03 | The Procter & Gamble Company | Infrared-assisted shrink wrap product bundling |
CN114426114A (en) * | 2022-03-07 | 2022-05-03 | 隆士丹智能科技(苏州)有限公司 | Tape sticking mechanism |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
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JP6254973B2 (en) | 2017-12-27 |
EP2311734A1 (en) | 2011-04-20 |
JP2011084341A (en) | 2011-04-28 |
JP2015164869A (en) | 2015-09-17 |
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Legal Events
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AS | Assignment |
Owner name: ULMA PACKAGING TECHNOLOGICAL CENTER, S. COOP, SPAI Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:MURGIA MENDIZABAL, ARITZ;SANCHEZ MUGICA, ION;IIDA, RYOTA;AND OTHERS;REEL/FRAME:025187/0901 Effective date: 20100921 Owner name: TERAOKA SEIKO CO., LTDA OF HEAD OFFICE, JAPAN Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:MURGIA MENDIZABAL, ARITZ;SANCHEZ MUGICA, ION;IIDA, RYOTA;AND OTHERS;REEL/FRAME:025187/0901 Effective date: 20100921 |
|
STCB | Information on status: application discontinuation |
Free format text: ABANDONED -- FAILURE TO RESPOND TO AN OFFICE ACTION |